Jamie Farr Classic-Round Four

Yiiii doggie! Another nail in the coffin. Yi wins in a play-off.

Made it as far as Harrisburg. Stacy P. will have a ticket waiting when I get to The Open tomorrow.

Hold on to your seats! May have some good news by the end of next week.

“Don’t ever take sides with against the Family …” – Micahel Corleone Out here, more than likely, you’ll get the axe. Happened again.

Jamie Farr Classic-Round Three

WOW! It should be renamed the Jamie “Under Par” Classic.

We can only hope: It’s Independence Day. Perfect time for a revolution.

We’ll be arriving just in time: Ministers warn 40 a day could die by end of summer.

Any port in a storm? Unfortunately, yes. When I caddied in Jeju Korea back in 2006, something odd caught my eye in the clubhouse men’s room. Footprints beneath the urinals seemed to indicate which way to stand for proper use. I thought at the time this was some kind of joke but from what I learned the other day, there seem to be parts of the world that need to be told that this type of receptacle is for #1 only. Apparently, someone at the Jamie Farr hasn’t figured that out and deposited a pound of “butt butter” into the urinal in a port-a-potty behind the third green! Do ya see where I’m going with this?

Everyone Take Note

Jamie Farr Classic-Round Two

They’re lighting it up again. Looks like a -2 cut.

The aftermath: Even though papa Bae may have been offering advice, it was determined that neither K. B. nor her caddie solicited it, based on the evidence given. Therefore, no penalty was assessed. I’m totally convinced her caddie was in the clear but that head nod and denial from K. B. tells me otherwise about her. No matter, it’s over.

Paula Creamer withdraws: The Toledo Blade has the details. Is the Open in doubt?

Anyone coming? If filled hotel rooms are any indication of the Open’s popularity this year, it doesn’t look promising. Plenty of vacancies are still available I understand. Unheard of at this late date. One of the weakest rosters in memory, with the absence of Gulbis, Wie and now maybe Creamer, and around 30 amateurs in the field, I can see why. I’m going though, so it’s not a total loss.

It’s final: PGA Tour to ‘move ahead’ with groove rule-Finchem.

Has the light finally come on? -“In the beginning of the year, I was like whatever,” said Jeong Jang of the tour’s early troubles. “Now, I’m really worried about it. Wow, I don’t know what to do.”- Read the entire article regarding the LPGA’s free fall in GlofWeek. Even the Koreans see the writing on the wall.

Take special interest in the part about the Rochester negotiations. Again, the LPGA’s and sponsor’s version of the timing is miles apart. This scenario just keeps repeating itself. When will the players get the truth?

Here’s some interesting reading from the Sports Business Journal

Slimmer schedule for LPGA in ’10?
Story By JON SHOW
Staff writer
Published June 29, 2009 :

At the midpoint in the LPGA season, the positive signs the tour saw earlier this year with new domestic and international television deals have given way to concern about the 2010 schedule, which could contain just over 20 events depending upon the outcome of continuing extension talks.

There are 29 official money events on the LPGA’s 2009 schedule, down from between 31 and 36 events in each of the last 10 years. The last time the LPGA dipped into the low 20s in a season was 1971, when it staged 21 tournaments.

To date, the 2010 schedule contains 14 events that have contracts or oral agreements with sponsors, the LPGA or both (see box). Eleven of those events hold sponsorship deals and sanctioning contracts with the LPGA, and three are expected to join that list: the Safeway Classic in Oregon and the CVS/Pharmacy LPGA Challenge in Oakland have title sponsorship contracts for 2010 but do not yet have sanctioning contracts with the LPGA. State Farm has agreed to the framework of an extension in Illinois but is still haggling over dates.

Extension talks with sponsor Michelob Ultra for the LPGA’s Virginia stop have stalled. The LPGA classifies nine sponsors as having “shown an intent” to extend. Of the remaining seven events on the 2009 calendar, talks with Michelob Ultra in Virginia and HSBC in Singapore have stalled. Extensions were questionable with Navistar in Alabama and Owens Corning/Kroger in Ohio, said industry sources. SBS and Corning already announced they would not return in 2010 to Hawaii and New York, respectively. Phoenix is without a sponsor after the LPGA arranged a one-year deal with J Golf and Mirassou Winery for the 2009 event.

There is also speculation about the future of the unsponsored LPGA event in China. The IMG-owned tournament is scheduled for late October but does not have a course or a sponsor. If IMG cancels the event, another management group is prepared to stage the tournament, said a source close to the event.

LPGA EVENTS: Looking ahead
Agreements for 2010
Bell Micro LPGA (Ala.)
CN Canadian Women’s Open (Ont.)
CVS/Pharmacy LPGA Challenge (Calif.)*
Honda LPGA Thailand
J Golf (Calif.)
Kapalua LPGA Classic (Hawaii)
Kraft Nabisco Championship (Calif.)
Lorena Ochoa Invitational (Mexico)
LPGA Championship (TBD)
Safeway Classic (Ore.)*
State Farm Classic (Ill.)*
Tour Championship (Texas)
U.S. Women’s Open (Pa.)
Women’s British Open (England)

In active talks
Corona (Mexico)
Evian (France)
Hana Bank (South Korea)
MasterCard (Mexico)
Mizuno (Japan)
Procter & Gamble (Ark.)
Samsung (Calif.)
Sybase (N.J.)
Wegmans (N.Y.)

* Contracts remaining to be signed
Sources: LPGA, events, sponsors

“We are talking 24/7 with our tournaments and partners on renewals and extensions,” said David Higdon, chief communications officer for the LPGA. “We’re extremely confident that we’ll have a strong 2010 schedule.”
Decreased marketing budgets are putting more pressure on sponsors’ ability to meet the LPGA’s run-up on fees in the last few years, said sources familiar with the renegotiations. Increased sanctioning and scoring fees, and now higher television costs under Golf Channel, resulted in an estimated $500,000 annually in additional costs from previous contracts. The LPGA announced it will delay an additional $50,000 charge for scoring systems, and sources said the LPGA is showing flexibility on purse amounts.

LPGA sponsorships generally cost $2 million to $5 million a year, which primarily consists of the purse, television and $150,000 to the LPGA for scoring and sanction fees.

During a meeting with players earlier this month, LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said there were a dozen prospects for new events in 2010, but industry sources weren’t optimistic about a sizable portion of them coming to fruition. “Most of them are not what I would call close to happening,” said a source with knowledge of the plans.

The LPGA declined to identify potential cities, but industry sources said groups are holding talks in Atlanta, Grand Rapids, Mich., southwestern Florida, and Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. Sources said international expansion could include Taiwan, India, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

Jamie Farr Classic-Round One

Worked for Stacy P. once more. Hubby will be on the sack tomorrow.

If not for a couple errant tee balls, we would have been in the red. Shot even.

Your cheatin’ heart … We were paired with K. B. and even though she had Kevin, a looper from the Champions Tour on the bag, dad followed us around so the chance of some news worthy material was more than likely. But to my surprise, even though she started with a bogey, he was cheering on her every move like a supportive parent should. For twelve holes running, his actions were no less than stellar. It was as if he was in the running for father of the year but the “cheatin’ bastard” deep within his soul eventually emerged.

We started on the back and, after making the turn, the action started to unfold on the third hole. K. B. hit the tree directly off the tee and never made it over the creek. She pitched down the fairway, hit the green with her next shot and made the putt for a par four. There was no ambiguity as to her score and dad was close by watching every shot. This is significant.

Stacy had the tee on the next hole and hit three wood. K. B. was given the driver by her caddie and she put the peg in the ground. She then decided to switch to a three wood also and after hitting the fairway, turned and gave her dad, who was behind us, a nod. Stacy and I looked at each other and said “What the hell was that?” We new her dad told her to switch clubs some how.

As we walked off the tee, we brought up her father’s actions and she denied anything happened but her caddie confirmed daddy was displaying three fingers as we approached the tee. He thought dad was asking what they made on the previous hole (no way he forgot that great par) so he flashed four fingers back at him. Kevin now realized daddy was signaling for a three wood. The question was, did K. B. see it? That nod of approval cannot be taken any other way in my estimation. It was as if to say “Father, you were right.”

We had a powwow with Rules official Dough Brecht afterward and all sides of the story were told. K. B. flat out denied she turned and nodded to her father but that was the only way we could have known something was going on. If she would have walked to her bag, nothing would have seemed out of place.

Doug decide to meet with all the officials before making a decision and unless the scoreboard has not been updated, it looks as if they got away with it. I would assume not enough definitive evidence was presented.

After causing a scene by dropping the bag  last week and what happened today, it is clear something has to be done about this guy.

Where will I be? Next week is the big one. The US Women’s Open at Saucon Valley. As of now, I won’t be going. Don’t have a job and since the USGA is in charge, no access. It’s run like a maximum security prison. If I could get a ticket, I might go for the experience. If I could get a looper’s badge, I’d be in “caddie hog heaven”.

A.J. Eathorne won’t be heading there either but didn’t even bother to try to qualify. She will be on the other side of the bag at the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic on the Nationwide Tour. A.J. will be looping for Hockey Hall of Fame member Grant Fuhr and get this. He will be reciprocating at our own CN Canadian Women’s Open. A.J. has received an exemption and Grant will be toting the sack. Check out A.J.’s blog for what she’s up to.

“Hey man, that’s groovy”. I know, that is so passé but it does fit into the story. Anyone who follows golf knows -the USGA and R&A announced the new rule last August, along with agreements from all the major professional tours, that they would adopt the smaller grooves beginning 2010- but it looks like that may not be written in stone. According to this article, the PGA Tour just convened a meeting on whether to delay the switch for one year. Wonder what the LPGA will do? Maybe they should check for those “hot drivers” instead?

Looking for … a roommate for Evian. Have a room at the Hotel de France or I could cancel and stay with someone else who is in the same situation. A bag would help also.

Jamie Farr Classic-Pro-Am Wednesday

Worked the pro-am for Stacy P. and will be doing the same in the first round tomorrow. Her caddie/husband won’t be able to make it here until Friday’s round.

Stacy has a black female Labrador named Sam who is in “retriever camp” honing her skills as a hunting companion for her husband Pete. As a reminder, she has a special head cover on the driver.

She’s a big sucker!

It’s official: Kapalua is out! The Maui News has the gruesome details. Looks like the LPGA is planning to sue their pants off but we still lost another one. We’re falling off a cliff without a parachute.

The Jamie Farr is hanging on by a thread I understand. Heard one of the Board members say its fate will be determined in a couple weeks after a survey of the sponsors. Nancy was brought in to help smooth negations for the Rochester and Toledo events which makes sense. Helps to sit down with someone people actually like and respect.

Happy Fourth of July! Gas just went up 26 cents in one day.

Correction: K.B.’s father did not drop the bag on the thirteenth tee as I was first told. It was on the next hole after making the triple. Thanks for the support dad.

Put it on himself, he did: Candie Kung was warming up next to us on the range this morning. When asked if they were in the pro-am, her caddie Jeff said no, just alternates. Counting down the minutes was he, being aware of the exact number remaining. “Two hours to go” we were told upon leaving but by the time we reached the putting green, the searching gaze in Rules Official Doug Brecht’s eyes, told me something quite the opposite. Candie and Jeff were on the tee within minuets subbing for an absent contestant.

What’s in a name? A caddie “three man team scramble” was held Monday afternoon which is unremarkable in itself, but two of the squads are worth mentioning. “Team Nutrisystem” and the “Hair Club for Men” were just the opposite of what they may seem.

What’s in the bag? Don’t ask.

Jamie Farr or Wimbledon?

Jamie Farr Classic-Practice Round

A double pro-am held at Inverness C.C. kept practice rounds to a minimum. The Image Group Celebrity/Pro Challenge was scheduled for 3 PM.

Just this side of crazy: Father hires veteran caddie for his rookie daughter. Daughter finishes fourth. Caddie asks to be hired for the next week. Father finds out about the possibility of getting into the British Open and decides to concentrate on achieving that goal. Father hires daughter’s cousin instead. Cousin hands player a driver on the first hole during the practice round. Doesn’t realize there is a creek at the end of the fairway and a lay-up shot is required off the tee. Conclusion? Father is an idiot.

What a rip off! H. J. Choi had her car broken into at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Toledo. By now, her GPS and sunglasses are on sale at a local pawn shop. The good news was that the clubs were in her room.

Jamie Farr Classic-Pro-Am Monday-2009

Worked for Nancy Lopez this morning in the pro-am. Got a hug in the parking lot and a bacon sandwich before going to the range. Nancy knows how to treat a guy.

As pro-ams go, this was one of the best I’ve participated in. Most of theses guys couldn’t play a lick but it didn’t matter. Nancy knows how to “work a room” and today was no exception. Only took two holes for her to offer instruction to the worst of the group and never declined an autograph or picture request. A good shot received a hug and birdie a kiss. If this tour had a hundred just like her, we wouldn’t lose one event.

As I mentioned, our team left their “A game” in the bag today. One of their second shots, off the eighteenth fairway, came so close to my head, I could read the logo!

After carding forty-eight career wins on tour, when asked what was the most memorable experience, it was not any of her individual achievements. In fact, it wasn’t playing at all. The honor of being captain of the 2005 Solheim Cup team topped them all. She wished that week would never end.

Forty-eight wins is impressive but do you know how many seconds Nancy has had? She was asked once and figured 15-16 but found out it was forty-nine! Like they say, no one remembers who finishes second, sometimes even the ones who do it.

Well, hello there! Just before we teed it up, the “main man” came by for a visit.

Jamie Farr and Nancy

What’s in the bag? An illegal hot driver is what some caddies are claiming. Too many players who hit average distances with their irons are bombing it with the big stick. Guess what country they seem to be from?

Daddy dearest: Last Sunday, on the thirteenth tee, Kyeong Bae had a blow-up with the caddie/father which had her in tears. He dropped the bag and the standard bearer worked the next hole and a half until a replacement was found. Could explain that triple bogey.

Wegmans LPGA-Round Four

Took the scenic route through New York then merged onto I-90. Should have stayed off the eaten path. A stone cracked my windshield and the damage more than doubled by trip’s end. Still may be small enough to repair.

It was no contest in Rochester. It was Shin, by more than a chin.

The local TV news expected an announcement on the status of next year’s event and seemed optimistic but this article in the Democrat Chronicle doesn’t share that feeling.

“As seen on TV” … for the last time. Pitchman Billy Mays found dead.

Just another day on the job in Tijuana: His boss was beaten to death and dumped in an empty lot, his teeth and fingers missing …

Wegmans LPGA-Round Three

My player this week is Laurie Brower.

The second round finished this morning and play began at 10:45 off of both sides. Becky Lucidi was right in the middle of the pack but miscalculated her starting time. By the time she arrived, the five minute window had passed and she was DQ’d.

Like riding a bicycle: Almost. It’s been awhile since Laurie played an LPGA event so it didn’t take long for her to trample on some of the finer points of golf etiquette. She managed to step in everyone’s putting line during the first round, even her own. Took about five holes I recall. She even mistook Paige’s ball marker as her’s on the third green and was reading the wrong putt! Love ya Laurie!

Well done: Not a bad showing for Tiger’s niece. Shot +5 for the first two rounds.

A Visit With Cheyenne

And the hits just keep comin’! “Reliable sources” (at least that’s what I’ve been told) say that this week’s negotiations with the LPGA, concerning the fate of next year’s Rochester event, did not go well. Seems to be a continuing theme doesn’t it? This event has been around for 33 years. Will it be put out like yesterday’s trash reminiscent of Corning?

Also, if you were planning a trip to Kapalua in October to watch the girls play amongst the pineapples, I would hold up on booking your reservation just yet. After a friend of mine checked in to volunteering as he did last year, he was told that there will be a decision in the next couple of weeks as to whether the tournament is on or canceled. Unfortunately for him, his cash is already on the table.

Another tidbit I heard is that the reason She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s contract was renewed by the Board of Directors was that the LPGA’s finances looked great on paper. The main stipulation in her contract was to increase revenue not sign tournaments from what I understand. If you make big TV deals with J Golf and The Golf Channel and increase fees to the sponsors the bottom line looks very good but if there are no tournaments to telecast, what happens to those lucrative deals?

When will the bleeding stop?

Wegmans LPGA-Round Two

My player this week is Laurie Brower.

Two more rain delays. Finished just before 6 PM. Whew! Everyone in our group is at +2. Birdie drought all-around.

Good call: Even though we didn’t get much rain, the field staff made a wise decision to play “improved lies” today. It could have been really ugly.

My apologies: Jeff Steffler did not use his own ball or shoes in his conquest of high series in the bowling tournament. Pure talent and good looks made him a winner.

Say it ain’t so! One of the highlights at every Rochester event are the concession tents run by the Rochester Rotary volunteers. Selling the best red and white hots around, along with other menu items, they pump all the profits into the Sunshine Camp for children with disabilities but this year, they are conspicuously absent. The other day, one of our guys sat down with a retired Wegmans executive and asked point blank about the status of the Wegmans LPGA. Again, difficulty working with “you know who” was right at the top of the problems. In fact, he mentioned that the Rotary concessions are no more because the LPGA demanded a piece of the action!

Wait, wait and wait some more: We did plenty of that today.

“Check out my new iPhone.”

What some guys do best.

… and then the rains came.

Jacko tribute: A variety of Michael Jackson tunes aired in the caddie tent and one single black glove was donned by Luke, Brittany Lang’s brother, as he caddied.

One more quote to consider: While following an oncoming storm, Jeff Steffler described the image’s vividness on the radar as “caddie-butt red.”

Convenience trumps cost: Very early or late tee times give us an opportunity to get things done like auto repair. I dropped a deuce and a half at Firestone on Thursday for a right front ball joint and some other stuff. Probably could have shopped for a better deal but I had the lifetime alignment which couldn’t be done until front end was repaired.